Notes: UO vs. NC State in Super Regionals
EUGENE, Ore. - The Oregon softball team is two wins away from its second straight trip to the Women's College World Series with NC State in town for Super Regionals this weekend.
ESPNU will air each game of the Super Regional live. Oregon and NC State start the series at 6 p.m. on Friday with a noon game to follow on Saturday. A third game, if needed, will be played at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets for the Super Regional are sold out.
BROADCAST INFO
Every game at the NCAA Eugene Super Regional will be aired live on ESPNU with Melissa Lee and Jennie Ritter on the call. KWVA 88.1 FM will broadcast the game on the radio with an audio only live stream at kwva.uoregon.edu. Live stats are available at NCAA.com.
NO. 2 OVERALL SEED
Oregon is the No. 2 overall seed in the 2015 NCAA Championships, behind No. 1 seed Florida. The Ducks were the No. 1 seed last year when they lost to Alabama, 2-0, in the semifinals of the WCWS.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Oregon is 53-38 all-time in postseason play and 26-11 under head coach Mike White. The Ducks are making their 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament overall, not including two AIAW tournament trips in 1976 and 1980 before the NCAA sponsored women’s sports. Oregon’s first NCAA regional appearance was in 1989, when the Ducks also advanced to their first WCWS in Sunnyvale, Calif. Oregon has gone on to the WCWS twice since, in 2012 and 2014.
NCAA SUPER REGIONAL HISTORY
Since the Super Regional round was added in 2005, the Ducks have advanced to supers six straight times in six seasons under head coach Mike White. Oregon defeated Minnesota in two games last year to advance to the WCWS after falling to Nebraska in three games at home in 2013. Current Oregon first baseman Hailey Decker was on that Nebraska team as a freshman before transferring before the start of this season.
NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Oregon is now 18-0 in NCAA regional games under head coach Mike White. The Ducks are 43-21 all-time in regional games. Oregon’s last defeat in the regional round was in 2008 at Oklahoma, when they were eliminated after an 11-0 loss.
OREGON VS. NC STATE
Oregon is 1-0 against NC State all-time with the teams’ only meeting coming last year at the season-opening Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. In that matchup, aces Cheridan Hawkins and Emily Weiman squared off with the Ducks prevailing, 5-0. Hawkins allowed just one hit and three walks over seven innings with 10 strikeouts while Weiman surrendered five runs on 10 hits and six walks in seven innings with 11 strikeouts. Janie Takeda went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the game while the now-graduated Courtney Ceo tied the UO single-game record with five hits off Weiman. Lana Van Dyken had the only hit off Hawkins for NC State in the game.
COACHING CONNECTION
Oregon head coach Mike White and NC State head coach Shawn Rychcik have a long history together in international softball competition. The pair played against each other when White pitched for New Zealand and Rychcik was the top hitter on team USA. When White earned his US citizenship, the two played together for the stars and stripes. White is considered one of the best pitchers in men’s fastpitch history while Rychcik is known as one of the best hitters ever in the men’s game.
THREE STRAIGHT PAC-12 TITLES
After tallying a program record 21 conference wins, the Ducks won their third straight Pac-12 title. Oregon softball had never won a conference championship before its current three-year run. With a UCLA loss on May 9, the final day of the regular season, Oregon clinched its third straight outright championship. The Ducks found out about a half hour before they were set to play Arizona that ASU had hit a walkoff to beat the Bruins, 11-10, and seal the title for UO. Oregon is the first team to win three-straight Pac-12 titles since Arizona did it from 2003-2005. UCLA holds the record with four straight.
HAWKINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALIST
USA Softball announced on May 20 that lefty Cheridan Hawkins is one of just three finalists for the organization’s Player of the Year award. Hawkins joins Florida’s Lauran Haeger and Michigan’s Sierra Romera on the list. Hawkins, the Pac-12’s back-to-back pitcher of the year, boasts a 29-3 record, a 1.40 ERA and 249 strikeouts through regional play last weekend. Hawkins ranks second in the nation, allowing just 3.27 hits per seven innings. Ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in wins, shutouts and saves, Hawkins was also named first-team all-Pac 12 and leads the conference in wins, ERA and opponent batting average.
LILLEY FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST
The NFCA also announced on May 20 that third baseman Jenna Lilley is one of just three finalists for the group’s Freshman of the Year award. Lilley joins Oklahoma’s Paige Parker and Alabama’s Alexis Osorio on the list. Lilley, the Pac-12 freshman of the year, was also a first-team all-conference selection in her rookie season. The only Duck to start all 55 games this year, Lilley, a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week, ranks third in the Pac-12 with a .441 batting average and a .550 on-base percentage. She is tied for fifth with 16 doubles and is sixth with 57 runs scored. Her average, doubles, runs scored and 36 walks are all team-highs for the Ducks, while she also has six home runs, 15 stolen bases and 44 RBIs. In addition, the North Canton, Ohio, native was selected honorable mention all-defense, posting a .947 field percentage at the hot corner.
ONE OF A KIND
Oregon is the only program to have a finalist for USA Softball player of the year and NFCA freshman of the year (Hawkins and Lilley).
TAKEDA OWNS FOUR UO RECORDS
After breaking the program’s career marks for hits and stolen bases on back-to-back pitches against No. 9 Louisiana Lafayette on April 24, senior OF Janie Takeda became Oregon’s all-time runs leader on senior day, May 3, against California and UO’s all-time doubles leader on May 15 against North Dakota State in the second game of regionals. Takeda has 306 career hits, 203 career runs, 102 career stolen bases and 42 career doubles.
300-200-100 CLUB
Janie Takeda is just the 19th player in the history of NCAA softball to post 300+ hits, 200+ runs and 100+ stolen bases in a career. (In chronological order below)
1. Tiff Tootle, South Carolina (1990-1993)
351 hits, 207 runs, 114 stolen bases
2. Amy Chellevold, Arizona (1992-1995)
371 hits, 252 runs, 113 stolen bases
3. Shamalene Wilson, Florida State (1993-1996)
310 hits, 223 runs, 161 stolen bases
4. Alison McCutcheon, Arizona (1995-1998)
405 hits, 287 runs, 148 stolen bases
5. Kelly Kretschman, Alabama (1998-2001)
368 hits, 288 runs, 133 stolen bases
6. Lauren Bauer, Arizona (1998-2001)
349 hits, 238 runs, 133 stolen bases
7. Natasha Watley, UCLA (2000-2003)
395 hits, 252 runs, 158 stolen bases
8. Nicole Barber, Georgia (2001-2004)
379 hits, 266 runs, 257 stolen bases
9. Caitlin Lowe, Arizona (2004-2007)
351 hits, 234 runs, 156 stolen bases
10. Lindsay Schutzler, Tennessee (2004-2007)
362 hits, 241 runs, 120 stolen bases
11. Norrelle Dickson, Oklahoma (2004-2007)
328 hits, 234 runs, 110 stolen bases
12. Amber Jackson, B.-Cookman/Maryland (2003-05, 07)
348 hits, 265 runs, 114 stolen bases
13. Brittany Rogers, Alabama (2006-2009)
343 hits, 256 runs, 198 stolen bases
14. Ashley Charters, Washington (2005-2007, 2009)
314 hits, 214 runs, 133 stolen bases
15. Chelsea Bramlett, MississippiState (2007-2010)
359 hits, 219 runs, 207 stolen bases
16. Rhea Taylor, Missouri (2008-2011)
315 hits, 234 runs, 184 stolen bases
17. Raven Chavanne, Tennessee (2010-2013)
355 hits, 244 runs, 143 stolen bases
18. Kayla Braud, Alabama (2010-2013)
343 hits, 271 runs, 181 stolen bases
19. Janie Takeda, Oregon (2012-2015)
306 hits, 203 runs, 102 stolen bases
THE WINNINGEST SENIOR CLASS
Oregon’s class of four seniors - Janie Takeda, Karissa Hovinga, Jamie Rae Sullivan and Sara Goodrum - have won 200 games over their four-year careers, the most in any four-year stretch in UO history.
TOP NOTCH COMPETITION
Oregon has played 27 times against a ranked opponent this season. The Ducks are 21-6 against top-25 foes, with wins in 15 of the last 16 games. Of Oregon’s final 21 games in the regular season, 18 were vs. ranked foes.
WHITE OWNS OREGON WINS RECORD
After the first weekend of the 2015 season, head coach Mike White jumped to first on Oregon’s all-time coaching wins record list. White, now with 278 wins, jumped Kathy Arendsen (2003-09), who had a program-best 231 wins in seven seasons with the Ducks. White reached the milestone in his sixth season. UO’s 8-0 run-rule win over Northwestern on Feb. 7 was his 232nd win, breaking Arendsen’s previous record. To honor the achievement, White was presented with a commemorative engraved bat by SWA Lisa Peterson prior to the Oregon State series in March.
THE DUCKS UNDER MIKE WHITE
- Oregon is 12-6 vs. Arizona, 8-12-1 vs. Arizona State, 12-7 vs. California, 15-3 vs. Oregon State, 13-5 vs. Stanford, 10-8 vs. UCLA, 12-0 vs. Utah (2-0 vs. Utah in non-conference play) and 10-7 vs. Washington.
- UO is 26-11 in the postseason.
- UO swept ASU this season for the first time since 1989.
- Oregon has outscored foes 2,156 to 1,014 under White.
- Longest losing streak is just four games (2010)
- Longest winning streak is 15 games (2014 & 2015)
- The Ducks are 31-11-3 overall in Pac-12 series.
- Won 24 of their last 26 Pac-12 series.
- Lost just three Pac-12 series over the last four years.
- Ducks have been swept three times in Pac-12 series under Mike White while sweeping opponents 17 times.
HITTING TEAM NOTES
- The Ducks rank third in the nation with a .366 batting average.
- Oregon hit a school record .342 as a team last year.
- UO’s .467 on-base percentage is third in the nation.
- Oregon’s .614 slugging percentage is sixth best in the nation.
- Oregon ranks eighth in the NCAA averaging 7.6 runs scored per game.
- The Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 88 stolen bases.
- Oregon ranks 26th in the NCAA, averaging 1.6 stolen bases per game.
- Oregon ranks 15th in the nation, averaging 1.45 home runs per game.
- Oregon leads the Pac-12 with 13 triples, tied with Cal and UCLA.
HITTING INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Janie Takeda leads the Pac-12 with 35 stolen bases. She is 35-for-37 on the season. Second best in the league is just 20 stolen bases.
- Takeda is averaging 0.69 stolen bases per game, which ranks 17th in the NCAA.
- Freshman Jenna Lilley is third in the Pac-12 with a .550 on-base percentage. Her .550 OBP is 19th best in the nation.
- Lilley is third in the Pac-12 with a .441 batting average. Her 57 runs scored ranks sixth in the league.
- Freshman Gwen Svekis is third in the Pac-12 with an .840 slugging percentage and is 8th with a .427 batting average.
- Janie Takeda is seventh in the Pac-12 with a .429 batting average.
- Janelle Lindvall has been hit by 17 pitches this season, the most in the Pac-12.
PITCHING TEAM NOTES
- The Ducks rank 22nd in the NCAA and lead the Pac-12 with a 2.37 team ERA.
- UO’s .203 opponent batting average also leads the league.
- The Ducks lead the league with 381 strikeouts.
- Oregon pitchers have allowed just 260 hits this season, the fewest in the conference. Oregon has also issued the fewest number of walks in the conference at 110.
- Oregon has allowed the fewest runs in the Pac-12 this season at 153.
- The Ducks have hit 47 batters, most in the Pac-12.
- Oregon opened the season with three straight shutouts (8-0 vs. Cal Poly, 9-0 vs. #25 Texas and 8-0 vs. Northwestern).
- Oregon is 43-0 this year when leading after four innings.
PITCHING INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Cheridan Hawkins is 10th in the NCAA with a 1.40 ERA, which leads the Pac-12.
- Hawkins is second in the country in hits allowed per seven inning, averaging just 3.27.
- Hawkins is eighth in the nation with 10 shutouts.
- Hawkins ranks 12th in the nation averaging 9.7 strikeouts per seven innings.
RUN RULES
The Ducks have won by run-rule a whopping 20 times this season, including No. 25 ranked Texas on opening day, all three games against rival Oregon State, once at No. 10 UCLA and twice against then-No. 9 ranked Louisiana. Oregon run-ruled No. 18 Cal twice and No. 17 Arizona once. Full list below.
No. Opponent Score
1 vs. #25 Texas (2/6/15) 9-0 (5)
2 vs. Northwestern (2/7/15) 8-0 (5)
3 vs. Wisconsin (2/8/15) 10-2 (5)
4 vs. Sam Houston St. (2/18/15) 14-4 (5)
5 vs. Abilene Christian (2/20/15) 8-0 (5)
6 vs. North Texas (2/21/15) 9-0 (5)
7 Oregon State (3/13/15) 10-0 (5)
8 Oregon State (3/15/15) 23-12 (5)
9 Oregon State (3/15/15) 9-0 (5)
10 Utah Valley (3/25/15) 9-1 (6)
11 #19 Washington (3/27/15) 8-0 (5)
12 #19 Washington (3/29/15) 15-6 (5)
13 at #10 UCLA (4/5/15) 10-0 (5)
14 #19 Arizona State (4/11/15) 12-3 (6)
15 #9 Louisiana-Lafayette (4/24) 8-0 (5)
16 #9 Louisiana-Lafayette (4/25) 10-2 (5)
17 #18 California (5/2) 9-0 (5)
18 #18 California (5/3) 17-1 (5)
19 at #17 Arizona (5/9) 15-7 (5)
20 vs. BYU (Regionals) (5/14) 8-0 (6)
DUCKS ON THE POND
Oregon’s ability to both hit for average and draw walks has put an incredible number of Ducks on the pond. Oregon is averaging 15.1 baserunners per game and 2.5 baserunners per inning this season. The Ducks have tallied roughly 832 baserunners total this season (535 hits, 237 walks, 60 HBP), not counting errors, in 52 games and 327.2 innings.
